Barack Obama’s US election victory could scupper the open-skies agreement liberalising aviation between Europe and the US.


His victory is expected to give a major boost to tourism to America, but could threaten an agreement that ended some restrictions from March this year.


Phase two of Open Skies is set to end restrictions on foreign ownership of US carriers, but Obama has pledged to maintain the existing limit of up 49%.


If the agreement did collapse, it could force US airlines out of Heathrow, reduce transatlantic competition and push up fares.


The deal allowed Continental and other US carriers into Heathrow and British Airways to set up its OpenSkies subsidiary flying between Amsterdam, Paris and New York.


It is due to be followed in 2010 by the second phase, allowing foreign companies to take controlling stakes in US airlines and operate
domestically. Blocking this could see the original deal torn up too. 


European airlines such as Virgin Atlantic felt phase one was biased towards the US but supported it on the understanding that phase two would take place.


Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway said it was “more imperative than ever” the EU “stuck to its guns” and either ensured the US honoured the second phase or triggered the mechanism to scrap the first.


A BA spokeswoman said: “Genuine liberalisation of the aviation industry would bring significant customer benefits.”


Meanwhile, the travel industry is set to capitalise on a surge of interest in the US in the wake of Obama’s victory.


Some operators sprang into action the morning after the election. Guy Novik, chief executive of USAirtours, doubled online marketing spend for the week. He has included Obama’s campaign “yes we can” slogan in promotions and said the victory would “relaunch the US brand worldwide”.


Visit USA chief operating officer Alan Waddell said: “Europe has embraced Obama so it has to help tourism to the US, particularly from the UK.”


Waddell said the US was on course for a record 4.8 million UK visitors in 2008. 


Visit USA will brief members about the expected boost to the country’s tourism at WTM.


Kenya is also set to benefit, and Somak has added tours covering Obama’s father’s birthplace.